Congrats to DIANE EVERSON!

GLAD to see the front page feature article by Neil Johnson in today’s Gazette, “’I loved creating’: Edgerton Diane Everson to be inducted into state newspaper Hall of Fame”! THANK YOU for the interview report, Neil! THANK YOU TOO to Scott Angus, editor-in-chief, the Janesville Gazette, for placing this feature article on front page of today’s Gazette! The recognition of DIANE EVERSON is well earned and deserved!

I have known and worked with DIANE EVERSON since I first got acquainted working in Edgerton as the Associate Pastor at Edgerton United Methodist Church in the 1970’s and subsequently again when I was Interim Pastor at Edgerton United Church of Christ early in the 21st century. I consider DIANE EVERSON an OUTSTANDING EXAMPLE of a significant and gifted CITIZEN of EDGERTON, WI, JOURNALIST, EDITOR and CO-PUBLISHER of the Edgerton Reporter! THANK YOU, DIANE!

For review of Diane’s community leadership and involvement, I urge you to read Stacy Vogel’s report, “Publisher highlights Edgerton” published in the Gazette on Sunday, January 20, 2008.

The citation of “Memorable quote” from Diane is a BINGO, “I may be from a small community, but I am certainly not small-time.” That’s for sure! If you know Diane, I hope you will comment.

Diane’s previous awards which should be noted are the Emma C. McKinney Award, the highest honor for a woman working in community journalism, from the National Newspaper Association in 2006 and she was named “Wisconsin Woman Entrepreneur of the Year” in 1994.

Diane launched the annual Edgerton Sterling North Book & Film Festival in 2006. She enlisted her long-time friend, HELEN THOMAS, the renowned journalist who covered The White House and retired as Dean of The White House press corps, to be the KEYNOTE SPEAKER for that first festival! What a fantastic event and experience!

My wife, Marilyn and I were there in 2006 and have attended the Edgerton Festival each of its 7 years… and NOW look forward to the 2013 Festival. To follow the Festival, use this link to “Edgerton Book Festival” website.

There is an E-EDITION available online for subscribers to the paper, use this link, “The Edgerton Reporter.” We enjoy the benefits of a DIGITAL ONLY subscription to keep up with news of Edgerton, WI. Take a look. YOU can read through the current edition FREE online as an introduction now. Other features are accessible when one is a subscriber.

I know the truth of Diane’s testimony about the role which she took in Edgerton and COMMEND her for her forthright journalism, “We took on some dicey situations, and it was hard sometimes, yes, but whether or not you’re popular is not the thing that matters. The most important thing a local newspaper can do is to get people to think. To react.” I agree wholeheartedly. What do YOU think?

The bottom line of Neil’s article quoting Diane is very significant, “There’s always going to be a role for the village storyteller.” Right now, that is DIANE EVERSON in Edgerton, WI! Thank you, Diane! Sincere blessings on YOU and your mother, Helen and The Edgerton Reporter!!

Here we go…

Mr. E.

Last updated: 9:24 am Monday, April 29, 2013

John W. Eyster lives in the Edgerton area. He is an adjunct professor assigned with the online/distance education faculty of Viterbo University, LaCrosse. He continues his personal mission supporting democracy/civics education in Wisconsin K-12 schools through Project Citizen, We the People, Discovering Democracy (Milton HS). John is a community blogger and is not a part of The Gazette staff or management.